Choir workshop to be held at NIU

Published: Thursday, April 18, 2013 5:30 a.m. CDT

Lee Kesselman will bring his talents as a composer, choral conductor and speaker to Northern Illinois University on Saturday. Kesselman will lead a workshop as part of the Working With Children’s Voices series from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 171 of the Music Building. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Funding was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the Arts Education in American Communities program.

The workshop will be of special interest to choral directors, especially those who deal with children’s voices, as well as music education students and those who are interested in children’s choral music. The CSA Children’s Choir will be featured as a teaching choir during the workshop. Four CPDU credits are available for teachers attending the workshop.

This semester, Kesselman has shared his talents as a composer with the CSA Children’s Choir. He has composed a piece for the choir, which will be premiered at the ensemble’s spring recital att 7 p.m. May 15. The piece is called “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” and is based on a poem by Emily Dickinson.

Kesselman has been director of choral activities at College of DuPage since 1981. Conductor, pianist, teacher and award-winning composer, he founded and directs the New Classic Singers. A member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Kesselman’s compositions have been widely published.

The CSA Children’s Choir is directed by Mary Lynn Doherty, who is on the faculty at NIU. The choir was founded in 2008 and provides area children, ages 7 to 15, with the opportunity to develop their musical skills through the study and performance of high quality choral music.

The NIU Community School offers programming in music, art and theater to children and adults throughout the year. Information about the summer classes, ensembles, day camps, and lessons is available at www.csa.niu.edu or by calling 815-753-1450.